Implement draft and steering means.



w../\.hwoDHAs\/|1 lMP-LEMENT DRAFT AND STEERING MEANS.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 24. ISIB.

' Patented Mar. 18,1919.

2 SHEETS-SHEET l.

Sme/Moz -`w.'A. woDHAM. 4INIPLEMENTDRAFT AND STEERING MEANS.

APPLICAT'ION EILED JUNE 24.1918.

Patented Mar.,18, 1919.

` 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

@mem/toa @Mo/vn m o EST AVAILABLE COlF UNITED STATES .PATENT oFFici..

WILLIAM A. WODHAI, l' KOOBHEAD, MINNESOTA.

mmm' DRAFT AND BTEBING IEANS.

lare the following to be a full, clear, and

xact description of the invention, such as vill enable others skilled in the art to which t appertains to make and use the same.

' My invention has for its object to provide a simple yet eflicient arrangement of -ai'ts for connecting several binders or the ke in tandem, for drawing them with a 'ractor in such manner as to turn properly t corners without leaving the corner areas` artly uncut. f With the foregoing general object in view, ie invention resides in the novel features E construction and uni ne combinations of arts to be hereinafter (fully described and aimed, the descriptive matter being suplemented by the accompanyin drawings hich form a part of this application and which:

Fi re 1 is a diagrammatic top plan view lowing the application of my invention in `nnecting a pair of binders andin hitchg'the front inder to a tractor;

ig. 2 is a detail longitudinal section on ,e plane indicated by' the line 2-2 of i 1; Fig. 3 is a transverse section on the plane the line 8 3 of Fig. 1; and, Fig. 4 is a perspective view ofthe front d of the tongue, its guide, and the means r shifting said tongue alon said guide. In the drawings above brie y described, pair of binders B are shown drawn by tractor T through the instrumentalitiy of' a(present hitch and steering means. ach i er B or other machine which is to be .wn by the tractor, is in moet cases proled with a forwardly projecting stub i e to which a front truck 2 is pivoted truck having flanged wheels 3 to travel an the ground. Extending forwardly from truck 2 for the purpose of steerin the ne, is a forwardly and rearwardly' shiiable lgue 4, said tongue being b preference yined of telescopic sections. e rear secn 4 of the tongue 4 is in the form of a lular guide secured to the truck 2 to turn Specification o! Letten Patent.

Patented Mar. 18, 1919.

l 'appimuon nien :une s4, isis. semi in. 941,822.

bodily therewith, while the front section 4 is merely in the form of a ole whose rear end is received slidably in t e guide 4.

The front end of the tongue 4 is received in a slot 5 formed in a transverse guide bar 6, one ofthese bars being secured to each binder but the posterior one, while another is secured to the tractor T. The front end of tongue 4 is provided with a head 7 to prevent movement thereof from Vthe slot 5, and a' air of cables 8 are secured at one end to sai head, said cables passing around pulleys 9 at the ends of the bar 6 and then eading rearwardly to a suitable windlass 10.mounted on the bunk of the binder and provided with a hand wheel 11. Any pre ferred means not shownmay be provided for locking the windlass 10 against rotation but .when said windlassis turned in one direction or the other, one cable 8 will be -wound and the other unwound, so that the tongue 4 is shifted to one side or the other to steer the machine in the required manner.

The strain of pullinthe several machines is not exerted on the ca les 8, but upon draft chains 12 connecting the several machines and spaced laterall from the trucks 2. In turnin to the eft at corners, and in again straightening the course of the train o machines after making the turn, the front section 4" of each tongue slides in its respective rear section 44 to permit free turning movement without an bindin or tendency to break any part. en ma ing a turn, the hand wheel 11 is turned so as to properly sition the trucks 2, thus preventing t e machines from turning short of the corner and skipping the grain or the like by so doing.

From the foregoing, taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, it will be obvious that althou h m invention is of comparatively sim e an inexpensive nature, it will be highly eilicient and in every way desirable. Since probably the best results are obtained from kthe details shown and described, they are preferably followed, but

within the scope of the invention as claimed, numerous minor changes may well be made. Furthermore, although I have illustrated and described the invention in connection lwith a plurality of binders and a tractor, it

is obvious that it may be employed for connecting and steering all kinds of mx;-

chines when arranged in tandem, regardless of the means provided for drawing said machines forwardly or propelling them.

I claim:

l. The combination with a front and a rear Wheeled machine, a steering truck pivoted to said rear machine, and a pull chain offset from the truck and connecting said machines; of a longitudinal tube secured to said truck, a tongue Whose rear end is slidable in said tube, a transverse guide on the front machine along which the front end of said tongue is movable, and means for moving said tongue end along said guide. 2. The combination with a front and a rear Wheeled machine, a steering truck pivoted to said rear machine, and a pull member offset from the truck and connecting the two machines;- of a longitudinal guide secured to said truck, `a tongue extending forwardly from said truck, said tongue being in permanent alinement with and slidable at its rear end along said guide, and means for connecting the front end of said tongue with said front machine and for swinging it laterally with respect thereto.

.3. The combination with a front and a rear wheeled machine, a steering truck pivoted to said rear machine, and a lpull member offset from the truck and connecting 3 said machines; of a longitudinal tube secured to said truck, a' tongue Whose rear end is slidable in said tube, and means for connecting the front end of said tongue to said front machine and for swinging it laterally With respect thereto.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand.

VILLIAM-A. WODHAM Witnesses:

EDWIN ADAMS, AGNES Goms/IAN. 

